Foodborne Diseases and Outbreaks

The U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that “each year 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases” in the United States. Foodborne disease outbreaks contribute to this burden and are important public health events. Foodborne disease outbreaks are reported to the California Department of Public Health, by local health departments. The causes of foodborne disease outbreaks include bacteria and bacterial toxins, viruses, chemicals (toxins and metals) and parasites.

To prevent and control foodborne illness, information from foodborne outbreak investigations is used by public health professionals to: